The Issue

Since the early 90s, the teen birth rate in South Carolina has fallen by 61% - a remarkable decline and one that should be celebrated. Rates have declined among all ages, all races, and in all 46 counties.

Rikers Health Advocacy Program (RHAP)

Main Message: This program is designed to produce problem-solving skills for HIV/AIDS prevention among high-risk youth, particularly drug users and youth in correctional facilities. The program focuses on problem orientation, defining and formulating a problem, generating alternative solutions, decision making, and implementing a solution.

Target Population: Males who are in correctional facility settings ages 16-19 years old.

Length: Two week intervention with two one-hour group sessions each week for a total of four sessions.

Program Size: Small group sessions with eight participants per same sex group leader.

Components:

Group discussion and lectures.

Sexuality/STD/HIV/AIDS education.

Self-efficacy, self-esteem, and behavioral skills development are taught.